If you have a small child in your life, chances are that you’ve read your fair share of children’s books. Our 2.5 year old son LOVES to read, so our collection is pretty big and includes everything from board books to early-grade readers. Many of these were gifts from our baby shower (attendees brought a book instead of a card), but most of them were purchased by myself at discount stores (TJ Maxx and thrift stores) or on sale at Books a Million or Barnes and Noble.
With the changing of the seasons, I recently busted out our Halloween themed books, and Little Man has gotten a kick out of them. As such, and because I know SO many people who have tiny tots around the same age as mine, I thought I would share our top 5 favorite Halloween books.
#1
Llama Llama Trick or Treat
We’ve had this book for a couple of years now, and no matter how many times we read it, Dylan always wants more. I don’t know what it is about this particular book, but he goes nuts for it. It’s fairly short – less than 30 words long – but something about it enchants him. Anna Dewdney, the author of the Llama Llama collection, recently passed away, and I’m glad that her legacy continues on inside of our little library.
#2
Spooky Wheels on the Bus
Dylan loves the “Wheels on the Bus” song, so this was a natural YES for him. It’s just a reimagined version of the classic children’s songs that not only counts to ten but also incorporates some silly Halloween lyrics, like “ten goofy ghosts go boo-oo-oo.” We sing through this book at least once each night.
#3
Little Blue Truck’s Halloween
Written by Alice Shertle, Little Blue Truck’s Halloween is an adorable addition to the Little Blue Truck collection. It stars each of Little Blue’s favorite animal friends, dressed up in costumes, and is a “call and response” style of narration that prompts little readers to guess what animal hides beneath each flap. It’s interactive not only on the physical page but also in the storyline, which makes this another favorite for our toddler.
#4
Five Little Pumpkins
If you ever want to buy a book that your toddler will want to read over and over, buy Five Little Pumpkins. As counting book with a sweet rhyme scheme and natural rhythm, this one is a keeper, especially with its vibrant illustrations. This book gets read 3 or 4 times a day in our house.
#5
Mickey’s Spooky Night
Simply put, you can’t get more toddler-friendly than Mickey Mouse. This book is no exception. Although it’s a little wordy, it draws our little man in every single time. It does have a little bit more suspense than some of the other books, but he seems to like it as much if not more than the rest. If you have a Mickey fan in the house, definitely consider this one for your library.
What about you? Does your little guy or gal have some favorite Halloween books to add to the list? Let me know in the comments!
Laura W Carter 